An appeal to the Parliament concerning the poor that there may not be a beggar in England.

AN APPEAL TO THE PARLIAMENT, CONCERNING THE POOR, That there may not be a Beggar in England.

IN the midſt of many and great Undertakings, let not a Settlement for the Poor be forgotten, but revive, ad, and execute all wholſome Lawes, and encourage all good Means, to Supply Poor People with Labour and Relief, and ſo prevent the ill Breeding, wicked Life, and bad End that many Thouſands have fallen into through Idleneſs; To this End, give Order that the enſuing Plat-form may be fully executed: Although this thing be warrantable, yet if there be not an abſolute Neceſſity laid on them (whom it doth concern) to Execute their Office, this VVork may fail and come to little or nothing, notwithſtanding the Means may be ſufficient; but if Carried on as it ought, the Cure is certain, no Beggar in Iſrael.

The Plat-form, or Way how Poor People may be Supplyed with Labour, and Relief.

EVery Pariſh, according to the various Places and Employments, and as their Poor are encreaſed, agree with ſome Able Man, or Men, that rightly underſtandeth their VVork, that may Undertake, and by the Pariſh be Aſſiſted;

I. To take Notice how many Old, Impotent, and young Children be in the Pariſh, and Supply them by Collection; and alſo Help ſuch whoſe Labour is not ſufficient to yield them Maintenance: But if any in the Pariſh want Employment, that are able to work, ſet them to work according to the wholſome Laws of the Nation.

II. To take the moſt Orderly way for the manner of doing, according to the variety of Places, and kinds of work; If there be Twenty Perſons in a Country Village that want employment, then the Pariſh agree with ſome Clothier, Stuff, or Stockinmaker to furniſh them with ſo much VVork as they can do: So in great Towns, and places of Cloathing, one Clothier take 10, another 20, being brought in by Authority; for though there may be work enough, yet the Idle will not come for it; to have work, and want Government, is as if they wanted work; ſome Pariſhes have Means enough, and yet the Poor want VVork, Food, and Government.

So in great Cities, where is much Trading on Silk, VVooll, Hair, VVinding, VVeaving, Button-making, &c. every Pariſh, or Diviſion, agree with ſome Trades-man, or men, to provide for 10 or 20 as aforeſaid, and ſo may riſe to Hundreds or Thouſands by the ſame Rule: So in Pariſhes where the Poor are much encreaſed, and have no Trade, or where ſome great Trade is wholly decayed, there ſome other is to be ſought for with diſcretion: In Pariſhes where are no Poor, their Accompt is ſoon given, and they fit to help others: Some near London, ſaid, They had not a Beggar dwelling in their Pariſh, and yet have had 30 Travelling Beggars in one week.

III. To ſettle a Poor mans Office, Firſt, Where Handy-crafts-men and Labourers that want VVork, and ſuch as want Workmen, may enquire: Secondly, Where Boyes that would, or are fit to go Apprentice, may enquire of Maſters; and ſuch as want Servants in City or Countrey, or whom they have ſpoken to, may enquire: Thirdly, Where Maids that would, or are fit to go Apprentices, or Covenant-Servants, or ſome that want ſuch, may enquire; But none to be put to Service until they be firſt Taught to Spin, Knit, Sew, learn ſome Trade, or way of livelihood; who elſe are neither fit for Service, nor can in aftertimes do any thing for themſelves, Fourthly, Where all Poor People that are in diſtreſs or danger of Periſhing, may make their Conditions known, that Means may be uſed to Supply their wants.

IV. That all Perſons whatſoever, may have free Acceſs and Acceptance without molleſtation, to give in true Information concerning any neglect of the Poor to any in Authority, Juſtice of the Peace, or any in Power, as there may be cauſe; and that every one that neglecteth his Duty, reſtore to the Poor ſo much as they have done them wrong; and that Diſtreſs be made if they refuſe to Pay preſently.

V. That all Judges of Aſſizes and Seſſions, lay open the ſad condition of the Poor in their Charge, and what the Law provides, and take Accompt what is done; and receive all true Informations concerning any Neglect of the Poor, and ſee the Penalty juſtly executed: The Law is made for the Lawleſſe and Diſobedient.

VI. That no Poor People be denied their former Liberty, nor ſtrict Courſe taken againſt them, until ſome good Means be uſed to Supply their wants.

Much might be added concerning the Means how there may be Work enough; how to Order things to the beſt advantage in Cities, Towns and Villages; how to take a Liſt, or the juſt Numbers in great Cities, Out-ſtreets and Alleys, Tenants, In-Tenants and In-mates, where may be many Periſh, many idle hard to be found, and ſettled in Order; how to encounter with the great Charge this may amount unto: But honeſt Labour and good Government, may ſave the Rich from Charge, and the Poor from Hunger. And to ſpeak to Particulars, may be more ſeaſonable when this work is come into practiſe; and more ſutable to the divers Places, Perſons, and various kinds of Trading: If any Object the Trouble: To have ſuch Multitudes of Beggars in this fruitful Kingdom, Is not that trouble? To hear them cry and not give, is not that trouble? To hear their cry, and give, is trouble alſo; not knowing whether it doth good or harm: But if every Pariſh keep to their own, the Condition of the Poor may be known: I have Conſidered of Cities, Towns and Villages, but no Place have I found where this Plat-form may not be ſuteable, with little or no alteration; although it be ſhort, it concludes enough to effect the work, and with little trouble or charge in compariſon of ſome Propoſals concerning the Poor, and being faithfully executed, there may not be a Beggar in England, which is the deſire and hope of one that hath no intention of evil to any, but wiſheth the good of all, who, having been many years exerciſed among the Poor, and much deſired their good, and through long Experience have ſeen the ground of their Miſery, the eaſineſſe of the Remedy, and the benefit.

T. L. POST-SCRIPT.

THis Work of Charity doth not concern Parliament men, and Officers for the Poor only, but all other in Authority to exerciſe their Power in their Reſpective Places for the General good: And all not in authority alſo; Rich men to encourage it every way, being beſt able; and the Middle Sort do their endeavour, leſt they like ſmall Iron Creeppers in a Chimney, who bear the burden and heat of the Fire, until they be waſted to Sinders; and the Poor to avoid Idleneſs, which is oftentimes the Cauſe of Begging; and hearken to the Counſel of the Wiſe man, Eccleſiaſticus 40. My Son, lead not a Beggars life, for better it is to die then to beg, verſe 28. The life of him that dependeth on another mans Table, is not to be accounted a life, verſe 29. Begging is ſweet in the Mouth of the ſhameleſs, but in their Belly there burns a fire, verſe 30. That this Plat-form, or ſome other, may be put in Practice when the Dayes lengthen is likely, becauſe of the Neceſſity, and cannot ſafely with good Conſcience be wholly omitted: But that all joyn in the Execution there lieth the ſtreſs; many good Things have been began, but men being ſelfiſh, careleſs and unconſtant, the Work hath failed: I have in ſome meaſure unloaded my own Conſcience in this thing, and laid it before others, that all might be clear from the Cry of the Poor; But he that ſtoppeth his Ears at the Cry of the Poor, he alſo ſhall Cry and not be heard.

T. L.